The French trading centers were no longer limited to ports on the coast. Instead, they had developed into the countryside. The production of food grew along with the growth of population. Also, there were more competitions regarding the control of the Atlantic system, included conflicts over colonies and sea-lanes. Smuggling also happened frequently. The French cooperated with the English people at Curacao, and earned Andean silver during this process. Some key commodities would be the animal furs, sugarcane, coffee, etc.
Political Backdrop
The dominant dynasty of France was the Bourbon family, which was a model of absolutism for other European dynasties. Louis XIII was in power from 1610 to 1643, along with his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu. After 1614, in order to obtain full empowerment Louis XIII stopped convening the Estates-Generals, which was an advisory body with three groups. Thus people were not able to give advices to the king. The king gradually established an absolute monarchy with almost no disorders, and held unlimited rights, known as the “divine right of kings.” The Seven Years’ War took place between the French and Indians, from 1755 to 1764. During the war, France lost North American colonies. The war marked the end of the absolutism in France.
The King and the Chief minister are on the top of the hierarchy.
Gender Roles
Women had relatively low social status in the society.
Population statistics
Population did grow during this period. However, this was not a problem because the production of food increased as well.
Conception of childhood
Children were required to receive primary education.
Citizenship
People born in France had French citizenship.
Education
Around the 18th century, French had already developed an educational system. According to the law issued by Louis XIV in 1686, parents had to send their children to village schools. Students studied for Frenc, Latin, sciences, and art at the schools. There were also supports from the government to build and run the schools. Meanwhile, the Catholics helped build colleges, where the French people could receive higher education. The first time of an universal examination was in 1802, Napoleon established the “baccalauréat examations” for French, Latin, and other subjects. [2]
Artistic Innovation
The flow of art was led by the flow of people. In 1627, Simon Vouet came back from Rome first introduced the Baroque style to Paris, France. In the early 1600s, under the reign of Louis XIII, when the French art was still under the influence of Italian Mannerism, the Flemish baroque and the Roman classicism became two of the most dominated art styles in France. Later, Neoclassicism and the Rococo style came into play and had an influence on the French architecture and sculptures. In the 18th century, France gradually replaced Italy to be the center of art in Europe.[3]
Artist: Nicolas Poussin Title: Arcadian Shepherds (Et in Arcadia Ego) Date: 1630 Repository: Chadsworth (Derbyshire) Collection of the Duke of Devonshire
Artist: Nicolas Poussin Title: Les Bergers d’Arcadie Date: 1637 Artist: Nicolas Poussin
Title: Death of Germanicus Death: 1627 Repository: The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Artist: Nicholas Mignard, French, 1606 - 1668 Title: The Shepherd Faustulus Bringing Romulus and Remus to His Wife Date: 1654 Repository: Dallas Museum of Art
The four paintings present above are typical examples of the Baroque style French paintings. The artists, Nicolas Poussin and Nicholas Mignard were known for their Baroque style paintings. Nicolas Poussin's art style was largely influenced by his experience in Rome.
Name: Parade helmet à l'antique Date: around 1620~1630 Repository: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
This helmet was made aroung 1620 to 1630, which was in Louis XIII's reign. It was in classical French Baroque style, and it was likely belong to a member of the French court.
Artist: Laurent de La Hyre Title: Allegory of Music Date: 1649 Repository: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
[4][5]
Classic literary texts
Religion
The dominating religion in the early modern France was Catholicism. Protestants were prosecuted at times and they secretly practiced the religion in the villages.
Architecture
This is the Versailles Palace built by Louis XIV. It was a gathering place for the nobilities, and Louis XIV kept an eye on the nobilities. "Much envied and imitated across Europe, the palace became the epicenter of a luxurious court life that included entertainments such as plays and musical offerings, state receptions, royal hunts, boating, and gambling" (textbook).
This is a photo of Gate of the Choir-screen of the Cathedral of Troyes. This gate was build around early 18th century. The Baroque style was not that obvious in this gate, instead, the Rococo style came into play. The gate was made of iron, just like other contemporaneous works.
This is a cathedral build around 1700 to 1742, when Louis XV was in power. It was designed by a French architect named Boffrand, Germian.It located in Lorraine, France. It was a typical example of religious building in Baroque style.
[4][5]
The video below provides more information about the Baroque style architecture.
Observations about what we have learned
I learned about the French society under absolutism, and how the absolutism ended after the Seven Years' War. I was really interested in the part about French art and architecture. When I was doing my Renaissance essay, I learned that Italy was the center of art in the 16th century. I noticed the gradual transformation of the location of the artistic center in Europe, from Italy to France. Also, the development of art styles was also eminent.
France by Sherry Wang
Map of Western Europe in 1700s
Economic Backdrop
The French trading centers were no longer limited to ports on the coast. Instead, they had developed into the countryside. The production of food grew along with the growth of population. Also, there were more competitions regarding the control of the Atlantic system, included conflicts over colonies and sea-lanes. Smuggling also happened frequently. The French cooperated with the English people at Curacao, and earned Andean silver during this process. Some key commodities would be the animal furs, sugarcane, coffee, etc.Political Backdrop
The dominant dynasty of France was the Bourbon family, which was a model of absolutism for other European dynasties. Louis XIII was in power from 1610 to 1643, along with his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu. After 1614, in order to obtain full empowerment Louis XIII stopped convening the Estates-Generals, which was an advisory body with three groups. Thus people were not able to give advices to the king. The king gradually established an absolute monarchy with almost no disorders, and held unlimited rights, known as the “divine right of kings.”The Seven Years’ War took place between the French and Indians, from 1755 to 1764. During the war, France lost North American colonies. The war marked the end of the absolutism in France.
Timeline
French Early Modern History timeline.Aspects of Culture
Social Backdrop
Education
Around the 18th century, French had already developed an educational system. According to the law issued by Louis XIV in 1686, parents had to send their children to village schools. Students studied for Frenc, Latin, sciences, and art at the schools. There were also supports from the government to build and run the schools. Meanwhile, the Catholics helped build colleges, where the French people could receive higher education. The first time of an universal examination was in 1802, Napoleon established the “baccalauréat examations” for French, Latin, and other subjects. [2]Artistic Innovation
The flow of art was led by the flow of people. In 1627, Simon Vouet came back from Rome first introduced the Baroque style to Paris, France. In the early 1600s, under the reign of Louis XIII, when the French art was still under the influence of Italian Mannerism, the Flemish baroque and the Roman classicism became two of the most dominated art styles in France. Later, Neoclassicism and the Rococo style came into play and had an influence on the French architecture and sculptures. In the 18th century, France gradually replaced Italy to be the center of art in Europe.[3]Artist: Nicolas Poussin
Title: Arcadian Shepherds (Et in Arcadia Ego)
Date: 1630
Repository: Chadsworth (Derbyshire) Collection of the Duke of Devonshire
Artist: Nicolas Poussin
Title: Les Bergers d’Arcadie
Date: 1637
Artist: Nicolas Poussin
Title: Death of Germanicus
Death: 1627
Repository: The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Artist: Nicholas Mignard, French, 1606 - 1668
Title: The Shepherd Faustulus Bringing Romulus and Remus to His Wife
Date: 1654
Repository: Dallas Museum of Art
The four paintings present above are typical examples of the Baroque style French paintings. The artists, Nicolas Poussin and Nicholas Mignard were known for their Baroque style paintings. Nicolas Poussin's art style was largely influenced by his experience in Rome.
Name: Parade helmet à l'antique
Date: around 1620~1630
Repository: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
This helmet was made aroung 1620 to 1630, which was in Louis XIII's reign. It was in classical French Baroque style, and it was likely belong to a member of the French court.
Artist: Laurent de La Hyre
Title: Allegory of Music
Date: 1649
Repository: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
[4][5]
Classic literary texts
Religion
The dominating religion in the early modern France was Catholicism. Protestants were prosecuted at times and they secretly practiced the religion in the villages.Architecture
This is the Versailles Palace built by Louis XIV. It was a gathering place for the nobilities, and Louis XIV kept an eye on the nobilities. "Much envied and imitated across Europe, the palace became the epicenter of a luxurious court life that included entertainments such as plays and musical offerings, state receptions, royal hunts, boating, and gambling" (textbook).
This is a photo of Gate of the Choir-screen of the Cathedral of Troyes. This gate was build around early 18th century. The Baroque style was not that obvious in this gate, instead, the Rococo style came into play. The gate was made of iron, just like other contemporaneous works.
This is a cathedral build around 1700 to 1742, when Louis XV was in power. It was designed by a French architect named Boffrand, Germian.It located in Lorraine, France. It was a typical example of religious building in Baroque style.
[4][5]
The video below provides more information about the Baroque style architecture.
Observations about what we have learned
I learned about the French society under absolutism, and how the absolutism ended after the Seven Years' War. I was really interested in the part about French art and architecture. When I was doing my Renaissance essay, I learned that Italy was the center of art in the 16th century. I noticed the gradual transformation of the location of the artistic center in Europe, from Italy to France. Also, the development of art styles was also eminent.Bibliography
[1]"Europe in Year 1700." Euratlas Periodis Web. Accessed November 03, 2015. http://www.euratlas.net/history/europe/1700/.
[2]"The Revolution, Napoleon, and Education." The Revolution, Napoleon, and Education. Accessed November 03, 2015. http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/society/c_education.html.[3]"French Art." Wikipedia. Accessed November 03, 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_art.
[4]"Artstor." . Accessed November 03, 2015. http://library.artstor.org/.
[5]"Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History." France, 1600–1800 A.D. Accessed November 03, 2015. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/?period=09®ion=euwf#/Overview.